Lobelia plant named ‘Wesloba’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Wesloba’, characterized by its cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; short internodes; freely and uniform flowering habit; and dark blue and white bi-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Lobelia erinus cultivarWesloba.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobeliaplant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Wesloba’.

The new Lobelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop new Lobelia cultivars with a desirable growth habit andinteresting flower colors.

The new Lobelia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin 2002 of the Lobelia erinus cultivar Weslowei, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 12,708, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number 01P508, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobelia was discoveredand selected by the Inventor from within the resultant progeny from theabove-mentioned cross-pollination in a controlled environment inSüdlohn, Germany in 2002.

Asexual reproduction since 2002 of the new cultivar by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany, has shown that theunique features of this new Lobelia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Wesloba’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Wesloba’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Cascading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit with short internodes.    -   3. Freely and uniform flowering habit.    -   4. Dark blue and white bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia have smaller flowers than plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Weslowei. In addition, plants of the new Lobeliaand the cultivar Weslowei differ in flower color. Plants of the newLobelia have narrower stems than plants of the male parent, aproprietary selection identified as code number 01P508. In addition,plants of the new Lobelia have flowers with smaller white markings thanflowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of the cultivarWeslobigblue, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,634. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of thenew Lobelia differed from plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were more compact than plants of        the cultivar Weslobigblue.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller flowers than plants of        the cultivar Weslobigblue.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Lobelia were darker blue in        color than flowers of plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Lobelia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side close-up view ofa typical plant of ‘Wesloba’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up of atypical flower of ‘Wesloba’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Wesloba have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were grown in a glass-covered greenhouse and conditions thatclosely approximate commercial production conditions during the springand summer in Südlohn, Germany. Plants used for the above-mentionedphotographs and following description were grown as one plant per 12-cmcontainer or three plants per 25-cm hanging basket container. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20 to 25° C. andnight temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. Plants were pinched onceduring the production period by removing about 1 to 2 cm of theuppermost apical growing tip. Plants were about 20 weeks from plantingwhen the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus cultivar Wesloba.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Lobelia erinus, ‘Weslowei’, disclosed in U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 12,708.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus            identified as code number 01P508, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 18 to 21 days at 20° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 to 28 days at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Cascading and rounded flowering plants            with intense dark blue and white bi-colored flowers. Lateral            shoots outwardly spreading; plants uniform and trailing.            Freely branching with lateral branches forming at every            node; dense and bushy plant habit. Pinching plants will            enhance branching. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and            patio containers.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 16.5            cm.        -   Plant length (soil level to lateral branches apices).—About            37 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 147A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Basal            leaves: Length: About 4.7 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape:            Elliptic to ovate. Apex: Retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Crenate. Petiole length: About 8 mm. Mid-plant leaves:            Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to            round. Apex: Retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate.            Petiole length: About 8.4 mm. Apical leaves: Length: About            3 cm. Width: About 6.7 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Slightly dentate. Petiole length:            Petioles not observed. Texture, all leaves, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Colors, all leaves: Developing            foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developing foliage, lower            surface: 146B. Fully developed foliage, upper surface: 146A;            venation, 146B. Fully developed foliage, lower surface:            146B; venation, 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Flowers arranged singly at lateral            apices. Flowers held mostly outwardly. Flowers persistent.            Older flowers are overgrown by new flowers and foliage.            Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Flower shape.—Tubular with three larger lower petals and two            upright petals.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on weather conditions; typically            three to ten days.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Depth (height): About            1.8 cm. Tube length: About 8.7 mm. Throat diameter, distal            end: About 4.7 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 2.8            mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Color: Base and towards the mid-section, 145D            to 96B to 96D; at the apex, close to 96A to 96C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, fused;            three larger lower petals and two smaller upper petals.            Three lower petals: Shape: Obovate. Length, above throat:            About 1.1 cm. Width: About 7.6 mm. Two upper petals: Shape:            Spatulate. Length, above throat: About 7 mm. Width: About            3 mm. Upper and lower petals: Apex: Cuspidate to round.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: Towards the            margin 96A; towards the center, 155D. When opening, lower            surface: 96B to 96C. Fully opened, upper surface: 96B to            96C, towards the center, 155D. Fully opened, lower surface:            96D to 97B. Throat: 97D; towards the center, 155D; spots,            96A, and stripes, 144A. Tube: 96D to 97A to 97D; spots, 96C,            and stripes, 144B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals,            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 7.1 mm. Width: About            1.2 mm. Shape: Triangular to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Appearance: Wiry. Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Color: 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five, fused. Anther length: About 2.8 mm. Anther diameter:            About 2 mm. Anther texture: Pubescent. Anther color: 186A            and 91A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 11A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            7 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted, ovate. Stigma texture:            Pubescent. Stigma color, immature: 86A. Stigma color,            mature: 86A. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: 144B.            Ovary color: 144B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production            have not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from 4 to 30° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Wesloba’, asillustrated and described.